Grenade



March 6, 1956 E. MANZOLlNl 2,737,116

GRENADE Filed March 4, 19-52 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS nited States The presentinvention relates to a fuse for grenades and the like, particularly forhand grenades.

In explosives as used by the infantry and particularly in hand grenades,the ignition of the explosive charge is caused by a primer struck by aspring operated firing pin. In conventional firing devices such springis continuously under load and is generally retained by a safety leverwhich is :in turn engaged by a safety strip which is re moved when thehand grenade is thrown. After removal of the safety strip the tension ofthe firing pin spring acts directly on the safety lever which istherefore strongly urged to move in order to permit the striking of thefiring pin. It is therefore necessary to retain the safety lever withsufiicient power and careful attention must be directed thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuse for grenadesor the like wherein the firing arrangement is designed to assume twopositions. In the first of these positions the firing pin is inclinedand is not in alignment with the axis of the primer and the spring isunloaded while in the second position the spring is loaded and thefiring pin is in alignment with the primer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse :for handgrenades and the like wherein the safety strip is interposed between thefiring pin and the primer and when the safety strip is removed from thegrenade the firing device is moved from an inclined position to aposition in alignment with the primer while at the same time tensioningthe spring.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fuse wherein thefiring device comprises a group of three levers movable angularly withrespect to certain .pivots and arranged inoperative abutment relation toeach other so as to reduce the stress exerted by the spring under thetension of the firing pin upon an external lever of such group. Theexternal lever begins its angular movement when the grenade is thrownafter removal of the safety strip.

A further object is to provide a fuse for grenades wherein the metallicmembers forming the firing device fall off during the flight 'of thegrenade after the firing pin has struck the primer.

The invention contemplates the novel construction, combination, locationand relative arrangement of the parts as will be fully understood by thedetailed explanation set forth below and shown in the drawings in whicha preferred embodiment is illustrated as an example:

Figure 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of a grenade "in safetyposition;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the grenade in firing position;

Figure -3 is an axial cross-sectional view of a modified forr'n 'of t heinvention, and

Figure '4 is a plan view "(if the safety stri Referring to Figures -1and 2 of the drawing, '17 llfdieates'th'e substantially cylindrical bodyor a grenade which com rises a lower portion containing the burstingcharg'e atent 2,737,116 "Patented Mar. 6, 1956 and an upper portionwherein the firing device is positioned. Between the lower and upperportion of the body there is interposed a first safety member in theform of a strip 3 which covers substantially the primer 4 arranged onthe detonator contained in the bursting charge.

In the upper portion of the body there is located a group of threelevers, the innerlever 8 and the external lever 6 being pivoted on asingle pivot 9 while the intermediate lever 7 is pivoted on the pivot 30located opposite the pivot 9. The firing device comprises a shank 20having a head 1 provided with a recess wherein an element 19 of thelever 8 penetrates. The element 19 acts as -a pivot about which theshank 20 and the firing device oscillate. 0n the shank 26 a spiralspring 2 is mounted which is contained in a cup 22 provided with afiring pin 23. On the cup 22 there is mounted a sleeve 21 which abutsagainst the head 1 of the shank 20. The spring is located between thebottom of the cup 22 and the sleeve 21'. The shank 20 and the membersassociated therewith are contained in a holder 24 which is provided atthe bottom with a hole for the passage of the firing pin 23. The holder24 is provided with a projection 25 which engages an opening 31 made inthe strip 3. At one side of the holder 24 a second safety device in theform of a hook 5 is pivoted at 27. The hook 5 comprises a lug 2S and anarm 29. The lug 28 passes through a slot made in the holder 24 andengages the lower surface of the cup 22 while an arm 29 penetrates anopening provided in the intermediate lever 7. v I In the position shownin Figure l the firing device is inclined with respect to the axis ofthe primer and the arm 29 abuts against the lever 7 thereby preventingthe latter from looking. In this position the spring 2 is unloaded.

The holder 24 abuts at its lower part against a slotted wall located inthe upper portion 13 of the body and flush with the strip 3 which mayslide in such slotted wall.

As is shown in Figure 1 the lever 6 jour-nalled at 9 on the upperportion 18 'of the body is located externally of the grenade body. Thelever 6 has an arm adjacent the body and has a slot wherein the end 32of the strip 3 penetrates. The end '32 is built to engage the lever 6 inorder to prevent the latter from looking. The end of lever 8 abutsagainst the lever 7 near the pivot point 3t thereof and the lever 7abuts against the lever '6 near the pivot point :9. It is apparent thatthe relative location of the abutment points of the levers with respectto their pivot points causes a reduction in the stresses so that only afraction of the force applied to the inner lever '8 acts on the externallever 6.

The operation of the firing device is as follows. By withdrawing the'strip 3 by means of the grip member 13, strip 3 causes throughprojection 25 the rocking of holder 24 and the members contained thereinabout the element 19 of lever 8. The rocking occurs till holder 24 abutsagainst the stop member 33. In this position (Figure 2) the firing pin23 is in alignment with the primer '4 and strip 3 is fully withdrawn.Since projection 25 moves horizontally, holder 24 during the rocking iscaused to m'oveupwa'rdly bringing therewith hook 5 which by abutting,through lug 28, against cup 22 compresses the spring '2. Since arm 29 ofhack 5 engages the opening of lever 7 and since no relative motion ofthe three levers may take place since the arm of lever 6 is keptadjacent the grenade body by the hand of the operator, book 5 cannotrock although being urged by spring 2 through the reduction of thelevers referred to. The hand of the operator has therefore to exert verylittle strain to oppose the rocking of lever 6. After throwing thegrenade, lever 6 is no more "retained by the operator :and'i'may startits rocking. The location of the pivoting points is so arranged thatlever 6 has to rock through 45 before lever 7 is raised by such a lengthas to disengage arm 29 of hook 5. After disengagement of arm 29, hook 5,urged by spring 2, may rock about the pivot 27, thus making free cup 22which, under the action of spring 2, causes the firing pin to strikeagainst the primer 4.

In order to prevent the metallic members forming the firing device andthe three levers from being blown to a great distance during bursting ofthe grenade which may be dangerous to the operator these members afterthe striking of the primer fall off during the flight of the grenadeanddo not form fragments.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 there is provided a device indicatedat 12 which prevents the members forming the firing device and the leverfrom falling off during the flight of the grenade and are thereforeintended to form fragments. In order to increase the quantity offragments produced by a grenade the bursting charge is contained in ametal tube provided with two end elements 34 and between the tube andthe wall of the grenade there is a metal cylinder 11 provided in theform of a spiral which is intended to be broken into fragments uponbursting of the charge.

The grenade may be thrown by a rifle by the usual devices used therefor.In this case the grip member 13 is made with suflicient weight so as tocause the automatic removal of the strip 3 from the grenade upon thethrowing thereof by means of a rifle.

In the grenade disclosed the detonator is introduced into the burstingcharge and comprises and plurality of igneous elements 14, 15 and 16designed to delay the transmission of fire from the primer to theexploding charge. These elements are contained in a tight metal casingwhich permits better preservation of the grenade.

I claim:

1. A grenade comprising a body, an explosive charge therein, a primercarrying detonator in said charge, a first safety member whichsubstantially covers the said primer, a firing device provided with afiring pin, said firing device in unarmed position being inclined withrespect to said primer and engaging with said first safety member, asecond safety member, a first lever pivoted on the upper portion of saidbody providing a pivot for the pivoting of said firing device, a secondlever pivoted on the upper portion of said body opposite to the pivotingof said first lever, said second lever being in operative abutmentrelation with said first lever and engaging said second safety member, athird lever pivoted on the upper portion of said body, said third leverbeing inoperative abutment relation with said second lever and meansinterengaging said third lever and said first safety member to preventdisplacement of said three levers when in unarmed position.

2. A grenade comprising a body, an explosive charge therein, a primercarrying detonator in said charge, a first safety member in the form ofa strip which substantially covers said primer, a firing device forigniting said primer, said firing device in unarmed position beinginclined with respect to the axis of said primer and comprising a shankhaving a head provided with a fork, a spiral spring mounted on saidshank, said spring being arranged to be moved from an unloaded to aloaded position, a cup provided with a firing pin mounted on saidspring, a ferrule mounted on said cup and abut ting said head of saidshank, a holder having the lower base provided with a hole for thepassage of the firing pin, said holder being provided with a projectionfor engaging said strip, a second safety member in the shape of a hookpivotally connected to said holder, said hook being formed with a lugand an arm, said lug being arranged to abut againstthe lower face ofsaid cup, a first lever pivoted on the upper portion of said bodyproviding a pivot for the pivoting of said firing device, a second leverpivoted on the upper portion of said body opposite the pivoting of saidfirst lever, said second lever being in operative abutment relation withsaid first lever and engaging the arm of said hook, a third leverpivoted on the upper portion of said body, said third lever having anarm in operative abutment relation with said second lever and an armadjacent the lateral wall of said body, said first safety member beingbent at one end to engage said third lever.

3. A grenade comprising a body including a lower portion containing anexplosive charge therein, a primer carrying detonator in said charge,and an upper portion containing the firing device for the ignition ofsaid primer, a first safety member in the shape of a strip interposedbetween said lower and upper portion above said primer, said firingdevice in unarmed position being disposed with its axis inclined withrespect to the axis of said primer, means on said strip engaging saidfiring device for rocking the latter to armed position aligned with theaxis of said primer when said strip is withdrawn from said bodypermitting free communication between said primer and the upper portionof said body, said firing device comprising a shank having a headprovided with a recess, a spiral spring mounted on said shank, saidspring being normally unloaded in unarmed position and loaded only whenin armed position, a cup mounted on said spring and provided with afiring pin, said cup being arranged to compress said spring, a ferrulemounted on said cup and abutting against the head of said shank, acylindrical holder having a hole for the passage of said firing pin,said holder being pro vided with a projection for engaging said means onsaid strip for rocking said firing device, a second safety member in theshape of a hook pivotally connected to said holder, said hook beingformed with a lug and an arm, said lug abutting the lower face of saidcup, a first lever pivoted on the upper portion of said body providing apivot for engaging said recess in the head of said shank to permitpivoting of said firing device when the latter is moved from the unarmedposition inclined to the axis of the primer to the armed positionwherein the axis of said firing pin is aligned with the axis of theprimer by Withdrawing said strip from said body, a second lever pivotedon the upper portion of said body opposite to the pivoting of said firstlever, said second lever being in operative abutment relation with saidfirst lever and being provided with an opening wherein the arm of saidhook engages, said second lever being arranged to disengage said arm ofthe hook when said second lever is permitted to rotate in a verticalplane about its pivot when urged by said first lever, a third leverpivoted on the upper portion of said body on the same pivot whereon saidfirst lever is pivoted, said third lever having an arm in operativeabutment relation with said second lever and an arm adjacent the lateralwall of said body having an opening therein, said first safety memberbeing bent at one end to engage said third lever by penetrating intosaid opening in the arm of said third lever adjacent the lateral wall ofsaid body.

4. A grenade comprising a body including a lower portion containing anexplosive charge therein, a primer carrying detonator in said charge,and an upper portion containing the firing device for the ignition ofsaid primer, a first safety member in the shape of a strip interposedbetween said lower and upper portions above said primer, said firingdevice in unarmed position being disposed with its axis inclined withrespect to the axis of said primer, said strip being provided with ahole whose edge engages said firing device for rocking the latter toarmed position aligned with the axis of said primer when said strip iswithdrawn from said body permitting free communication between saidprimer and said upper portion, said firing device comprising a shankhaving a head provided with a recess, a spiral spring mounted on saidshank, said spring in unarmed position being arranged to be normallyunloaded and to become loaded in armed position only when the firingdevice is aligned with the axis of said primer, a cup mounted on saidspring, a firing pin on said cup, said cup being arranged to compresssaid spring, a ferrule mounted on said cup abutting against the head ofsaid shank, a cylindrical holder having its lower base provided with ahole for the passage of the firing pin, said holder being provided witha projection for engaging the hole of the said strip, a second safetymember in the shape of a hook pivotally connected to said holder, saidhook being formed with a lug and an arm, said lug abutting against thelower face of said cup, at first lever pivoted on the upper portion ofsaid body and providing a pivot engaging said recess in the head of saidshank to permit the pivoting of said firing device when the latter ismoved from the position inclined to the axis of the primer to theposition wherein the axis of the said firing pin is aligned with theaxis of the primer by withdrawing said strip from said body, a secondlever pivoted on the upper portion of said body opposite to the pivotingof said first lever, said second lever being in operative abutmentrelation with said first lever and being provided with an openingwherein the arm of said hook engages, said second lever being arrangedto disengage said arm of the hook when the said second lever ispermitted to rotate in a vertical plane about its pivot when urged bysaid first lever, a third lever pivoted on the upper portion of saidbody on the same pivot whereon said first lever is pivoted, said thirdlever having an arm in operative abutment relation with said secondlever and an arm having an opening therein adjacent the lateral wall ofsaid body, said first safety member being bent at one end to engage saidthird lever by penetrating into said opening in the arm of said thirdlever adjacent to the lateral wall of said body, said holder beingarranged to compress said spring of the firing pin upon displacement ofthe firing device from the position inclined to the axis of the primerto the position aligned with the last mentioned axis, said hook beingarranged to keep said spring compressed while the firing device is inthe said alignment position and said hook being arranged to rock withrespect to said holder to release the firing pin when urged by thecompressed spring when the arm of the said hook disengages from saidsecond lever when said second lever rises after Withdrawing said strip.

5. A grenade comprising a body including a lower portion, an upperportion and a first safety member in the form of a strip interposedbetween said two portions, the lower portion containing an explosivecharge, a primer carrying detonator, a metal tube surrounding saidexplosive charge, a top and a bottom element cooperating with said tube,a metal cylinder in the form of a spiral interposed between the saidtube and the wall of said body, said tube, said elements and saidcylinder being adapted to form splinters upon explosion of the grenade,the upper portion of said body containing a firing device provided witha firing pin, said firing device in unarmed position being inclined withrespect to the said primer and engaging said first safety member, asecond safety member, means in said upper portion of said body toprevent the disjunction of said firing device from said upper portionduring the throwing of the grenade, a first lever pivoted on the upperportion of said body and providing a pivot for the rotation of saidfiring device, a second lever pivoted on said upper portion of the bodyopposite to the pivoting of said first lever, said second lever being inoperative abutment relation with said first lever and being providedwith means to engage said second safety member, a third lever pivoted onthe upper portion of said body, said third lever being in operativeabutment relation with said second lever and means interengaging saidthird lever and said first safety member to prevent any mutualdisplacement between said three levers.

6. A grenade comprising a body, an explosive charge therein, a primercarrying detonator in said charge, a first safety member whichsubstantially covers said primer, a firing device with a firing pin,said firing device in unarmed position being inclined With respect tosaid primer and engaging with said first safety member, a second safetymember, a first lever pivoted on the upper portion of said bodyproviding a pivot for the rotation of said firing device, a second leverpivoted on the upper portion of said body opposite to the pivoting ofsaid first lever, said second lever being in operative abutment relationwith said first lever and being provided with means engaging said secondsafety member, a third lever pivoted on the upper portion of the body onthe same pivot whereon said first lever is pivoted, said third leverbeing in operative abutment relation with said second lever, meansinterengaging said third lever and said first safety member to preventany mutual displacement of said three levers, said detonator in thelower portion of said body comprising a plurality of igneous elements todelay the transmission of the fire to the charge, said plurality ofigneous elements being contained in a tight metal casing.

FOREIGN PATENTS Austria Dec. 10, 1919

